Gator

It never ceases to amaze me how even the simplest of comments can't be relayed without error.

This is round 10. We have a bye in round 14. I doubt many players will require a "rest" in between.

Might... might... might... Try it and we'll find out. The game survived for over 100 years with players getting tired.

You thought wrong.

If you'd said that to the poster I've just responded to I wouldn't have needed to. interesting that their post is 22 hours old yet you say nothing to them. They don't post what they did and we're not having this interlude. Just showing your colours I suspect.

What do socialist left-wing loonies read ? The A-Z of borderless countries and how to ruin every economy they get their hands on ?

"Going overboard" ? "Dangerous game to play" ? What are you on about ? I reckon Frost is probably depth, but he's a better defender than forward. He was recruited as a defender and played all of his footy at GWS as a defender. His pace as a tall defender could be an asset. Just because some posters see a potential role for him down back doesn't mean he's seen as some sort of future gun. If he plays AFL I'd much rather he be tried in defence. If he stays at Casey it's no biggie either.

"probably the most explosive player I have ever played with."

Obviously he's a required player, but I have a suspicion that Tom has a bit of an ego and overvalues his worth, which could be a stumbling block getting his signature. He'd be looking at this contract as his big one and wants to be remunerated accordingly, both financially and length. It doesn't surprise me that there's a stalemate. I doubt the club thinks he's worth the coin he thinks he is. EDIT: when I posted I hadn't read the other thread with new developments.

Just the thoughts of a jealous random [censored]. What he's achieving is phenomenal and he already gets marked harder than most as expectations are ridiculously high. He's 21 and hasn't even played 30 games. Boyd has played roughly the same number of games and Dog's supporters constantly call for him to be given 'time'. Patton is older and looked far more at home behind the ball (defence) on the weekend. And Saints fans wet themselves over an 11 disposal/2 goal game from McCartin. Hogan is a young player who is already judged against his own high standards, while others are "given time". I'm sure he wouldn't have it any other way.

The shower roses are way too small.

Fun fact... It took Dangerfield 36 games to reach 3 games with 20 or more disposals. Petracca has done it within 4. Dangerfield is a goal-kicker and Petracca will be too. They're similar, but different. Petracca has a bit more of the Dustin Martin raging bull about him, although I have no doubt Petracca will be the better player.

You're carrying on like a pork chop.

Let's hope not. He's depth, so if he's selected it means we either have injuries or players out of form.

I find what Oliver is doing more extraordinary. Weitering is a ready-made gun. His intercept marking, reading of the play, maturity and calmness is almost unprecedented for a young tall, but Oliver's story is just as compelling, if not more so. Oliver's poise, vision, clean hands, ability to execute under pressure and phenomenal decision making under immense heat is incredible for an 18 year old in his first year. He doesn't fumble and rarely makes a mistake. This time last year he wasn't going to be drafted. Oliver plays in the most physically demanding area on the ground. There's rarely a respite from bruising contested ball. Over 50% of his possessions are contested. Weitering plays behind the ball, which is far easier. Btw, I'm not knocking the ex-Demon supporting kid Weitering, who looks like a future hall of famer, but I reckon Oliver's exploits are even more extraordinary given the circumstances and position he plays. If anything, Clarrie deserves more plaudits than he's getting.

Yeah, I read it, Stu, but it's small fish mate and not worth the "I told you so's". The guy worded it poorly.

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." Eleanor Roosevelt Yes, we (me) all fall into that trap, Stu. But it's a quote worth remembering.

It's not so much "hate", it's holding him to account. Last year he said the Saints wouldn't win a game, this year he said Melbourne would win 5 or 6, because he couldn't "see where the improvement was going to come from", and he also said Hogan would prefer to play with Freo's midfield in years to come over the Dees. He regularly makes a goose of himself.

That seems to be the latest groupthink round here. If he plays he plays, but despite racking up possessions I'm not yet convinced Neal-Bullen uses it well enough to be an auto recall whenever a spot opens up,

Out: Jetta (suspended), Harmes (omitted) In: Kent, Trengove Harmes has played 2 poor games in 3. It won't do him any harm going back to Casey for a week or two.

You'll be the last one I respond to. I'll try and make it really simple to understand. rjay, a poster I admire, recently said that Watts will never be a competitive beast and supporters should understand that. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Watts is getting games this year, because he's had a fantastic summer and improved his contested work immeasurably. This has been mentioned by Watts himself, his coaches and fellow teammates. It had previously been at a standard that didn't guarantee another contract and would see him spending more time at Casey (if he somehow managed to get another year) like he did in round 23. There are bare minimum levels of effort and Watts sails too close to the breeze too often. I like what I've seen this year, but if he drops off in the effort stakes he won't impact games to required levels. So, of course, rjay, Watts will never play like Viney or Selwood, the thickest supporter of any club in Melbourne would know that, but for me there are required levels that must be met, or he'll dish up unacceptable performances like Sunday. I acknowledge that all of the above completely falls on deaf ears.

I like Harmes, but right now he's a liability against good opposition. He's being played wing/midfield and he's not quite up to it - yet. He's better suited to high half-forward.

Which is exactly what I've done. I've praised him this year, but when he reverts to wonderfully insipid efforts I'll whack him, or anybody else that dishes up that sort of tripe. It appears to me that I'm just about the only one prepared to properly critique this guy.

No, what is predictable is the usual Dees' fans that have no clue why the club tried to trade him last year and have no clue why no other club was prepared to pay an early second rounder for him. What do you guys watch when you're at the footy ? If you're watching on TV then you can't appreciate his incredibly soft efforts. I've acknowledged his improvement in the contest, which is what has held him back all these years, but his first half was as bad as anything he's previously dished up. It's all above the shoulders and he's never far away from being the incredibly soft footballer I've grown to despise.

Excellent first post and I wholeheartedly agree. Astonishingly, I haven't seen anyone else mention it.